Corset or foundation garment



Nov. 17, 1942. G, E HAWES 2,302,216

CORSET OR FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed Oct. 20, 1938 INVENTOR EEUREE E. Hnwa 5.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Constr on FOUNDATION GARMENT George E. Hawes, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application october 2o, 193s, serial No. 235,954

Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in corsets or foundation garments, and has for its principal object the provision of means which will support and flatten the abdomen of the wearer, and which will enable the wearer to assume various postures, as standing, bending, and sitting without the injurious and uncomfortable pressure heretofore experienced with such garments, and without distorting and straining the structure of the garment.

It is desirable in providing abdominal supporting means that the .same be cupped to provide proper fit and support, and that boning be provided ior the full vertical length of the supporting means, and in heretofore known garments which fulll these conditions, it is found that when the wearer assumes a sitting posture the bones will press and cut into the groin, and also would cause the lower part of the garment to be forced up upon the body, and also to bow out, which is unsightly, inconvenient and injurious to the wearer, and is apt to distort, strain and tear the garment. As a compromise such garments have been produced with the boning suiciently short to permit the wearer to be seated without causing the endsof the bones to press into the groin, but in this case there was no adequate support of the abdomen, and while sitting the abdominal flesh would be forced out beneath the lower edge of the garment causing a roll of flesh to protrude.

It is proposed in the present invention to obviate these objections and to provide a garment which will not only provide continuous, comfortable and adequate supp-ort for the abdominal fiesh, but will do this in a manner to enable the wearer to assume a sitting or other postures with comfort and without injurious eifect. To this end it is proposed to provide a swinging belt structure pivotally connected at its ends to the garment, and which is disposed entirely below the waistline in a manner to confine and support the abdomen and which will remain in place upon the abdomen irrespective of change in the position of the wearer, in other word's,`it will remain in place in either standing, bending or sitting postures, and as the wearer assumes one or the other of these positions it will have relative free swinging movement as an entirety with respect to the main body portion of the garment as an entirety, the pivoted ends being supported at the sides of the garment which are normally' fixed with respect to the body.

It is further proposedv to provide such a belt.

having boning extending the full vertical length,

and which may be cupped in a manner to snugly fit the abdomen while at the same time cooperating with the body portion of the garment to present a smooth attractive contour.

Another object is toprovide a swinging belt having boning extending the full vertical length and which will be overlapped at its upper portion by the lower edge of the main body portion of the garment, the main body portion of the garment also having boning extending for its full vertical length. A further object is to provide a swinging beli-l which may be readily removed for the purpose of replacement or laundering. The invention is adapted for embodiment in garments having an inner belt, 0r garments without such inner belt.

With the above and other objects in view, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with references thereto, and the invention will be nally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a garment of the inner belt type embodying the invention, the outer part of the garment being partially opened to show the inner belt structure.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a garment embodying the invention, without an inner belt.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of one end of the swinging belt and the adjacent portion of the garment t0 which it is pivoted and showing in detail the pivotal attachment means.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing the garment in use, and in sitting posture.

Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the position of the garment in sitting posture.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the invention on a larger scale than the other illustrations, and showing the inner surface of the end portions of the swinging belt and the inner surface of the portions of the garment to which it is attached'.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. 1, the garment according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises a back section I0, elastic side sections II and I2 respectively including elastic inserts I3 and I4 which extend from the lower edge to a point below the upper edge; anda front section I5 permanently stitched at one'ed'ge to the side section I I and adapted to be fastened to the section I2 at its other edge, being provided for this purpose with suitable fastening means, as fastener hooks IB for connection with eyes I'I provided upon the edge of the side section I2.

The inner belt comprises side sections I8 and I9 respectively secured at each side of the garment to the side edges of the back portion In, a front section 29, and vertically disposed elastic sections 2| and 22 at each side between the front section and the side sections, the elastic section 2| being secured by stitching to the front section and the side section I8 while the elastic section 22 is secured by stitching at one edge to the side section I8, and is adapted to be fastened at its other edge to the front section, suitable fas-- tening means being provided for this purpose, as for instance, hooks 23 upon the edge of the front section which are secured to the eyes 24 provided upon the edge of the elastic section 22. AIt will be noted that the lower edge of the front-section is curved upwardly and is at a .point substantially above the lower edge of the entire garment, this lower edge being in fact only a short distance below the waistline. Thescction 20 is provided centrally with a pair of spaced boning strips 25-2 5, and boning strips 25-25 are also provided substantially midway between the strips 25 and the elastic sections 2I and 22.

The abdominal supporting belt 2l has its upper and lower edges convexly curved so that the belt tapers toward each end, the intermediate portion being designed so that it substantially corresponds to the vertical height of the abdomen. It is preferably constructed of two thicknesses of fabric and is provided with a central boning strip 2B and boning strips 29-29 outwardly spaced therefrom, the fabric being so stitched and formed by means of the boning stitching and a binding strip 3l] that it has a cupped shape, the curve of the cupped shape being also imparted to the boning. The upper portion of the belt underlies the lower margin portion of the front portion 23 of the garment, the boning strip 28 sliding and being guided between the boning strips EL3-24, and the boning strips 29-29 being offset with respect to the boning strips 2li-25.

The belt is adapted to be pivotally secured at its ends to the side portions I-B and I9 at a point slightly above the lower edge of these portions. For this purpose there is secured within each end of the belt a substantially triangular shaped metal plate 3I which is disposed between the two thicknesses of fabric and held by stitching surrounding the plate, this plate being provided with a projecting head 32 which is inserted in one of a series of eyelets 33 provided in a metal plate 34 secured to each of the side portions I8 and I9. The plate 34 is disposed between the two thicknesses of fabric and the eyelets are engaged through perforations in the plate and in the fabric and are flanged over to thus secure the plate and eyelets to the fabric. The plurality of eyelets are provided to enable the pivot points to be adjusted both vertically and laterally.

It will be understood that any suitable fastening means may be provided for pivotally connecting the belt to the garment, and such means if desired may be permanent either at one or both ends, although it is desirable for the purpose of replacement or removal of the belt, and also for ease of putting on and removing the garment, that at least one end be readily detachable. In the illustrated construction the head 32 is small enough to be loosely inserted through the outline eyelet 33 and will thereupon be reliably held n pivotal engagement through the pull of the belt and because of the disposition of the belt between the body of the wearer and the outer portion of the garment.

Garters 35 are secured to the lower edges of the front and back portions I0 and I5 at suitable positions, and garters 3G are secured to the lower edge of the abdominal belt '21.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have illustrated the invention as embodied in the garment without the inner belt structure. In this case the main body portion of the garment is substantially like the inner belt of the rst embodiment at the front and sides, the back portion If)aL which is continuously formed with the sides being the only point of difference. The abdominal belt and its vpivotal mounting is also the same, so that the same reference characters are applied to these corresponding parts.

. In Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated diagrammatically the position of the garment upon the wearer in standing and sitting postures. It will be seen that the cupped abdominal belt engages over the abdomen to support and flatten it, the cupped support and the pivotal suspension of the belt providing comfortable and safe control for the abdomen. The fact that the belt terminates below the waistline and has sliding overlapping relation with the lower part of the upper portion 20 permits the wearer to bend over without changing the position of the abdominal support upon the abdomen, and without causing the boned structure of th-e portion 20 and the abdominal belt to buckle or bulge, or to press into the flesh of the wearer. In the sitting position the upper portion 23 will slide down over the abdominal belt, the latter remaining in its supporting position over the abdomen, having the effect of uplifting flesh of the abdomen and pressing it back into the abdominal cavity. As the bone structure of the cupped abdominal belt extends the full length and as the belt maintains its supporting position upon the abdomen there will be no tendency for the flesh of the abdomen to be forced out below the lower edge of the belt. The pivotal support at the ends of the belt permits it to swing easily and naturally with the movements of the body with no tendency to wrinkle or distort.

In Fig. S I have illustrated a modification in which the swinging or pivot action of the belt occurs in the end portion of the belt itself, rather than at the point of connection with the garment. To each of the contracted end edges 31 of the belt 2l there is secured a section 38 of hour-glass shape, and which is formed of relatively thin fabric, preferably elastic. This section may be out to shape and suitably bound at its edges, or it may be woven to shape. A narrow reinforcing tape 39 of non-elastic material is secured centrally of the section 38 extending from the edge 3'I of the belt to the center of the outer edge 40 of the section 38.

The edges 4E) at each end may be permanently secured by stitching to the inner surface of the garment at each side at locations corresponding to the fastening eyes 33 of the rst embodiment, or one end only may be stitched and the other end detachably secured. Preferably both ends are detachably secured as illustrated, the edge 4D being provided with a series of hooks 4I engaged with a series of eyes 42 secured to the garment. By providing a plurality of neutral rows of eyes and additional eyes in each row to those necessary for engagement by the hooks the points of attaclnnent of the belt may be adjusted both vertically and laterally.

In operation the swinging of the belt takes place in the central contracted portion of the sections 38, the wide end edges 37 of the belt providing firm support of the abdomen at these points. The elasticity of the sections 38 enables them to remain smooth and fiat against the body in any position of swinging of the belt.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a corset or the like, a back portion, side portions, a front portion comprising an upper front section connected to said side portions, and a lower front section pivotally connected at its ends to said side portions, the lower marginal portion of said upper front section and the upper marginal portion of said lower front section overlapping below the waistline, said lower front section adapted to engage and support the abdomen and being relatively wide at its central portion and tapered toward its pivotally connected ends, the pivot connections at the ends of said lower front section comprising sections of elastic fabric connected between said ends and said side por- Y tions, and non-elastic reinforcing tapes extending longitudinally of each of said sections between said ends of said lower front section and the outer ends of said elastic sections.

2. In a corset or the like, a, back portion, side portions, a front portion comprising an upper front section connected to said side portions, and a lower front scetion pivotally connected at its ends to said side portions, the lower marginal portion of said upper front section and the upper marginal portion of said lower front section overlapping below the waistline, said lower front section adapted to engage and support the abdomen and being relatively wide at its central portion and tapered toward its pivotally connected ends, the pivot connections at the ends of said lower iront section comprising sections of elastic fabric of substantially hour-glass shape connected between said ends and said side portions, and non-elastic reinforcing tapes extending longitudinally of each of said sections between said ends of said lower front section and the outer ends of vsaid elastic sections.

3. In a corset or the like, a back portion, side portions, a front portion comprising an upper front section connected to said side portions and constituting with said back and side portions a body surrounding band, and a lower front belt section adapted to engage and support the abdomen having upper and lower edges converging toward their ends whereby said belt section is relatively wide at its central portion and tapered toward its ends, pivot connection means between the ends of said belt section and the inner sides of said side portions, providing free pivotal movement of said ends with respect to the portions of said body surrounding band immediately above said pivot connection means, adjustment means adapted to vary the position of said pivot connection means vertically with respect to said body` surrounding band, the lower marginal portion of said upper front section and the upper marginal portion of said belt section overlapping below the waistline, and whereby the entire belt section is adapted to have bodily movement about said pivot connection means independently of and relatively to said upper front section.

Li. In a corset or the like, a back portion, side portions, a front portion comprising an upper front section connected to said side portions and constituting with said back and side portions a body surrounding band, and a lower front belt section adapted to engage and support the abdomen having upper and lower edges converging toward their ends whereby said belt section is relatively wide at its central portion'and tapered toward its ends, elastic fabric pivot connection means between the ends of said belt section and the inner sides of said side portions, providing free pivotal movement of said ends with respect to the portions of said body surrounding band immediately above said pivot connection means, the lower marginal portion of said upper front section and the upper marginal portion of said belt section overlapping below the waistline, and whereby the entire belt section is adapted to have bodily movement about said pivot -connection means independently of and relatively to said upper front section.

5. In a corset or the like, a body surrounding band including back, side, and front portions of substantial width having a continuous upper edge and a continuous lower edge, the lower edge being curved downward from the front along the sides to the rear, and a lower front belt section adapted to engage and support the abdomen having upper and lower edges converging toward their ends whereby said belt section is relatively wide at its central portion and tapered toward its ends, and pivot connection means pivotally connecting the ends of said belt section and the inner sides of said side portions of said body surrounding band at points spaced upwardly from the lower edge of said body surrounding band, whereby the ends of said belt section and its upper marginal portion are overlapped below the waistline by the lower marginal portions of said side and front portions of said body surrounding band, and the lower edge of said belt section projects in spaced relation below the lower edge of said body surrounding band, said belt section adapted to have free swinging movement at its end and intermediate portions as an entirely about said pivot connection means relatively to said body surrounding band as an entirety.

GEORGE E. HAWES. 

